Third Group of Maldivian Hajj Pilgrims Departs

News

The third cohort of Maldivian pilgrims has officially departed for Saudi Arabia to perform the sacred Hajj pilgrimage for the Islamic year 1447 AH.

The group, consisting of 268 pilgrims, took off from Velana International Airport yesterday afternoon at 15:25 hrs local time aboard a Saudi Arabian Airlines flight.

Seamless Operations and Warm Welcomes

This departure follows the successful arrival of the first Maldivian group, which comprised 238 pilgrims. Upon arriving in Makkah, the initial cohort smoothly completed their first Umrah rituals. To ensure the transition remains seamless for all arriving groups, both the Maldives Hajj Mission and the Maldives Hajj Corporation have deployed teams on the ground in Saudi Arabia to provide coordinated logistical support and a warm reception.

The remaining prospective pilgrims scheduled to perform the annual pilgrimage from the Maldives this year are slated to depart today on the final flight.

The 'Makkah Route' Advantage

For consecutive years, Maldivian travelers are benefiting from the Makkah Route initiative. This specialized pre-clearance program significantly streamlines the immigration process.

By allowing pilgrims to complete Saudi immigration, customs, and health checks at their point of departure in Malé, the initiative drastically reduces waiting times upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, allowing pilgrims to head directly to their accommodations in Makkah and Madinah without standard airport delays.